Quick-adjust leg for bench-top products

Abstract

A work bench. The work bench includes a table top, a plurality of legs connected to the table top, and a leg length adjustment mechanism positioned on at least one of the plurality of legs. The leg length adjustment mechanism includes a threaded rod configured to rotate about a rod axis, and a leg adjustment member moveable between a first position where the leg adjustment member threadedly engages the threaded rod and a second position where the leg adjustment member is removed from the threaded rod. Rotation of the threaded rod about the rod axis results in axial movement of the threaded rod when the leg adjustment member is in the first position. The threaded rod is freely moveable along the rod axis when the leg adjustment member is in the second position.

1 . A work bench comprising:
 a table top;   a plurality of legs connected to the table top; and   a leg length adjustment mechanism positioned on at least one of the plurality of legs, the leg length adjustment mechanism including,
 a threaded rod configured to rotate about a rod axis; and 
 a leg adjustment member moveable between a first position where the leg adjustment member threadedly engages the threaded rod and a second position where the leg adjustment member is removed from the threaded rod, wherein rotation of the threaded rod about the rod axis results in axial movement of the threaded rod when the leg adjustment member is in the first position, and wherein the threaded rod is freely moveable along the rod axis when the leg adjustment member is in the second position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The work bench of  claim 1  wherein the leg adjustment member is provided as a pivotable lever. 
     
     
         3 . The work bench of  claim 3  wherein the pivotable lever is spring biased toward the first position and the leg adjustment member includes teeth for the threaded engagement with the threaded rod at an interlock interface. 
     
     
         4 . The work bench of  claim 4  wherein the pivotable lever is retained by a housing connected to a distal end of the one of the plurality of legs. 
     
     
         5 . The work bench of  claim 1  further comprising a knob connected to the threaded rod such that rotation of the knob results in rotation of the threaded rod. 
     
     
         6 . The work bench of  claim 1  further comprising a base member that is pivotably connected to the threaded rod, the base member providing a foot for the one of the plurality of legs. 
     
     
         7 . The work bench of  claim 6  wherein the base member is connected to the threaded rod by a ball and socket arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The work bench of  claim 1  wherein at least two of the plurality of legs do not include the leg length adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The work bench of  claim 3  wherein the pivotable lever is configured to pivot about a pivot in an orientation that generates a torque about the pivot, the torque generates a force that is applied by the pivotable lever to the threaded rod, the force has a magnitude that corresponds to the weight that is placed on the at least one of the plurality of legs. 
     
     
         10 . An adjustable table leg comprising:
 a proximal leg portion defining a bore segment extending axially therewith;   a threaded rod extending into the bore segment;   a coarse adjustment mechanism connected to the proximal leg portion, the coarse adjustment mechanism having a body with a passage through which the threaded rod extends and a stop member moveable between a release position and a lock position, wherein the stop member is spaced apart from the threaded rod in the release position and is in contact with the threaded rod in the lock position; and   a fine adjustment assembly having a distal leg portion and a knob which is rotatable to selectively move the distal leg portion axially in relation to the proximal leg portion.   
     
     
         11 . The adjustable table leg of  claim 10  wherein the stop member is provided as a pivotable lever. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable table leg of  claim 11  wherein the pivotable lever is spring biased toward the release position. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable table leg of  claim 12  wherein the pivotable lever is retained by a housing connected to the proximal leg portion. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable table leg of  claim 12  wherein the pivotable lever is configured to pivot about a pivot in an orientation that generates a torque about the pivot, the torque generates a force that is applied by the pivotable lever to the threaded rod, the force has a magnitude that corresponds to the weight applied to the proximal leg portion. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable table leg of  claim 10 , the distal leg portion further comprises a base member that is pivotably connected to the threaded rod, the base member providing a foot for the distal leg portion. 
     
     
         16 . A height adjustment apparatus for a table leg comprising:
 a housing defining a central bore therein and fixedly coupled to a leg portion;   a rod extending through the central bore of the housing; and   a lever pivotable about a pivot such that the lever is moveable from a first position to a second position, the lever in an interlocked interface with the rod when the lever is in the first position, and the lever released from the rod when the lever is in the second position,   wherein when the lever is in the first position a torque is generated about the pivot, wherein the torque generates a force that is applied by the lever to the rod at the interlocked interface, wherein the force has a magnitude that corresponds to the weight applied to the leg portion.   
     
     
         17 . The height adjustment apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the lever is spring biased toward the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The height adjustment apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a base member that is pivotably connected to the rod, the base member providing a foot for the height adjustment apparatus; and 
 a fine tune adjustment member coupled to the base member configured to threadedly engage the rod at a distal end of the rod. 
 
     
     
         19 . The height adjustment apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the base member is connected to the rod by a ball and socket arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . The height adjustment apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the interlocked interface is one of a threaded engagement, and a toothed engagement.